The refractive index of a given medium is the amount of bending of light when it passes from one medium to another. This chemistry video tutorial explains how to solve problems involving the speed of light wavelength and frequency of a photon. This value is the speed of light in a vacuum.
The speed of sound is also different for different types of solids liquids and gases.
Scientists have developed a method to measure the speed of light as it travels through a composite material. N c v When light travels from one medium to another the speed changes as does the wavelength. For critical angle we will use snells lawC is critical angle and C 45onmedium sinC nair sin90 nair 1sinC S inC 1 sin451 nmedium 141we know that refractive index n speedof lightinmediumspeedof lightinvacuum where c 3108ms1414 vc v 14143108 v 212108ms. Speed of light in vacuum refractive index of the medium.